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Canada

U.S. freighter runs aground in Cdn waters

A pair of tug boats helped push a 615-foot U.S. freighter out of the sand in southern Lake Huron near the Sarnia Yacht Club Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. The freighter became grounded late Wednesday night. (BARBARA SIMPSON/QMI AGENCY)

After the Buffalo missed the shipping channel from Lake Huron into the St. Clair River, a strong current help spin it around and run it into land near the Point Edward shoreline, in southwestern Ontario, around 9:30 p.m.

Locals Peter and Jane Dolinsek saw it happen.

“We couldn't believe it,” Peter said Thursday. “We thought he's going to take a sharp right or he's going to beach this baby.”

Hundreds of people flocked to the shoreline to watch rescue efforts Thursday morning.

The freighter containing an iron-ore derivative was heading to Cleveland, Ohio, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A malfunction in the vessel's propulsion system is believed to be behind the mishap, according to Transport Canada.

The freighter was eventually freed late Thursday morning with the help of two tug boats. No injuries or leakage were reported.

Arizona residents Jim and Susan Foreman were among the first at the scene Thursday morning. They were strolling along the waterfront when they ran across the grounded freighter.

“This is a lot of free entertainment in front of us,” Jim joked. “Being from the desert, you don't see much water activity like this.”